The Atlanta Falcons debuted their new red uniforms on Friday, but their performance didn’t match the fresh look as they suffered a 27-7 preseason loss at the hands of the Denver Broncos.
While the loss came in a preseason game and Atlanta still has plenty of time to regroup before the regular season, Broncos head coach Sean Payton took the opportunity to make a jab at the Falcons, prompting plenty of reactions from the NFL community.
Sean Payton’s Halftime Dig at Falcons Attendance Sparks a Reaction
Payton’s long-running rivalry with the Falcons dates back to his more than a decade-long career as head coach of the New Orleans Saints. Returning to Atlanta with the Broncos for a preseason game, Payton took the opportunity to poke the home crowd during a halftime interview.
“There’s a lot of people dressed up as empty seats today,” Payton said at a halftime interview, while looking around the stands at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Payton’s comment came after Denver dominated the opening half, racing to a 24-point halftime lead, leaving Falcons fans frustrated enough to boo their team as they headed into the locker room. The comment quickly spread across social media, with many pointing to Atlanta’s poor first-half showing as the backdrop for Payton’s jab.
“Petty Sean Payton is the best,” Saints podcaster John Butler said.
Petty Sean Payton is the best. https://t.co/ZIXv91c5u2
— John Butler (@Saintjohnbutler) August 15, 2026
The Oregonian’s Mike Freeman simply couldn’t help but laugh at Payton’s stunt.
“Sean Payton loves to troll the ATL. He is a rather loathsome fella, say many around the league, but the problem is Falcons have done little to shut him up over the years,” TV personality Steak Shapiro said.
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Atlanta’s disappointing display only fueled concerns about the team’s outlook for the upcoming season. While preseason results are rarely seen as a reliable indicator of regular-season success, many believe the Falcons still have plenty to prove heading into 2026.
Payton’s attendance joke also had some truth behind it, as the 71,000-seat Mercedes-Benz Stadium was far from full, with large sections of the lower bowl remaining empty for the Falcons’ preseason opener. Whether attendance improves during the regular season will likely depend on Atlanta producing better on-field results.
However, many didn’t like Payton’s comment at all.
“I legit [expletive] hate this guy,” the BroTalk podcast wrote.
“Just in case going behind 24-0 on a 98-yard pick-six wasn’t bad enough, Sean Payton decided to use a portion of his halftime interview to [expletive] on the Falcons’ preseason attendance,” Dawgs Central co-founder Graham Coffey said.
Just in case going behind 24-0 on a 98-yard pick-six wasn’t bad enough, Sean Payton decided to use a portion of his halftime interview to shit on the Falcons preseason attendance https://t.co/B1LORThma3
— Graham Coffey (@GrahamCoffeyDC) August 15, 2026
“Sean Payton may be coaching in Denver, but he’s still going to find the time to take his shot at the Falcons every chance he gets,” sports columnist Rod Walker remarked.
Atlanta has struggled to capitalize on a wide-open NFC South in recent years, and while Payton’s latest dig added to the frustration, Falcons fans will hope it serves as extra motivation for the team to finally turn it around.
